The Wilderness Of Maon

Maon, from the Hebrew word (pronounced) maw-own, meaning abode, was a town in the tribal territory of Judah (see Tribal Lands). Located on a hill about 7 miles south of Hebron, the wilderness area around the town became known as the Wilderness Of Maon. It was in that area that David sought refuge from Saul after and during the time that Saul was trying to kill the future King David. It was also the scene of one of the better-known incidents of Bible History, Nabal's refusal of David's request for supplies, an event that later resulted in David marrying Nabal's widow, Abigail.

"He came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon"

After Saul attempted to kill David right in Saul's palace, David fled out into Judea. Saul wasn't content with that; he ordered that David be hunted down and killed:

"See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah." (1 Samuel 23:23 KJV)

David sought refuge in the southern wilderness:

"And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon." (1 Samuel 23:24-25 KJV)

It was while in the wilderness of Maon that the incident with Nabal occurred. There has been some confusion as to where the incident with Nabal occurred because of the mention of Carmel, which is best-known as a city up on the Mediterranean coast of Galilee. There was however another lesser-known city named Carmel which was in the southern wilderness area of Judea, very near Maon.

"And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb" (1 Samuel 25:1-3 KJV)

Fact Finder: Might David have heard or seen any "dragons" while he was living out in the wilderness of Maon?
See Dragons